Tag: readers

Authortalk: The Seller of Secrets

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Welcome to the first edition of Authortalk! I’ll be posting quarterly on small press and indie authors to showcase some of these fantastic lesser known writers.

Today, we’re focusing on author Sheri Yutzy! Her fascinating debut novel, The Seller of Secrets, releases on April 26. Here’s a little about the book.

Inspired by historical Florence, Italy, and based on legends of the Renaissance-era Medici family, The Seller of Secrets is a YA romantasy novel with a sensory and elemental–based magic system.

On the mystical island of Bardia, Bell Asbury’s sister is dying. A girl with an extraordinary but volatile gift for fusing magical elixirs, Bell was eleven when she accidentally struck her sister, Roza, with a magic that left her with an incurable illness. Six years later, she overhears her sister’s fiancé buying illicit ingredients for a brainwashing elixir. Alarmed and infuriated, Bell tries to end the engagement, but Roza’s fiancé is from a noble house, the sisters’ father is in debt, and their mother is eager to have a connection to a powerful family.

Desperate to find a cure for Roza’s disease and an antidote to the brainwashing elixir, Bell uncovers a tangled web of secrets that leads to a man called the Seller of Secrets and his plot to use the brainwashing elixir to force the entire island to obey him. Bell alone can create an antidote, but her experiments risk the sanity of those she loves.

Rian, an infuriatingly handsome spy, offers to help her defeat the Seller of Secrets. Although she knows Rian is a master of deception, Bell can’t stop herself from falling for him. But with so many things changing in her life, Bell doesn’t know who she can trust and who is working to control her gift.

Does that sound amazing? Sheri recently sat down with me to share more about the book, her writing, and what she loved best about the fascinating characters.

Hi Sheri! Thanks for spending some time with me. The Seller of Secrets was such a good book! I loved that it wasn’t a typical medieval setting and instead relied on a lush, coastal location/setting. So I have to ask, where did you get the idea for this book?

The setting of The Seller of Secrets was sparked by a trip I took to Florence, Italy, with my sister and now sister-in-law. The city was so magical and warm, I knew I had to write a story set there. It’s a YA Romantasy, and it’s woven with themes of power and responsibility, trust, and the nature of art, and Renaissance, Italy was the perfect backdrop for those elements. All the themes are things I’ve worked through in my own life. Exploring them through story helps me to process my own growth.

I’ve found that to be true as well. Was there anything you edited out of this book?

In early drafts, Rian was much more sinister and Bell less confident. Mary Weber did a developmental edit for me prior to finding my agent, and she showed me how strong Bell really was. My agent, Rebecca Lawrence, then helped me revise Rian until he was a better match for Bell!

Thank you so much for revising Rian—lol. (I’m not a fan of the dark “bad boy.”) Even though he was less sinister, he and the other characters kept me guessing whether or not they were good guys! You mentioned how Mary Weber helped you find Bell’s strength. Can you give us more insight into her?

Bell is fiercely honest, which may be my favorite thing about her. She’s one of the more innocent characters in the story, which was hard to write well and not overdo it, but I think her innocence works with her honesty. She’s not jaded. She’s hopeful. She believes the best about people. She’s one of my favorite characters but was actually hard to write. 

Interesting. I usually find villains hard to write. How did you get in touch with your “inner villain” to write the antagonist in this book?

This antagonist deceived himself to justify controlling everyone around him. I can find that same temptation in myself when things don’t go my way and I think, It would be so much simpler if everyone did it the way I want. My MC also faces this, so in a way, she shows a positive version of the antagonist.

I’m still laughing over your “inside thought.” Did you ever consider any other titles for this manuscript?

It was originally The Secret Seller, but we switched it to The Seller of Secrets for clarity.

I can see why that might be confusing. This book is your debut novel. How long did you write before you became published?

I started writing my first novel when I was fourteen, so eighteen years ago! I’ve had short stories published over the last ten years, but this is my very first novel.

We’re glad you kept at it—writing can be a long but fun ride. Do you have a playlist/composer or use any visual aids while you’re writing (i.e., maps, Pinterest, magazine pictures, etc.)?

I listen to certain artists for a long time, different ones for each book. I’m working on a woodsy YA fantasy right now, and my soundtrack is Gregory Alan Isakov. I use Pinterest boards when working out the plot, and then later when fine tuning descriptions. 

Pinterest is such a time-suck for me, but it really helps with visualization. As I mentioned, writing is a fun but hard profession. Aside from “keep writing,” what’s your best advice for aspiring writers?

Remember why you love doing this! The joy of creating a story you love truly is the best part.

I totally agree! What are your go-to writing resources that could help aspiring authors?

I highly recommend The Writer’s Sanctuary, run by Mary Weber and CJ Redwine. Also, any writing courses by Maggie Stiefvater–I’ve learned so much from her, and her courses are affordable and you can rewatch them. 

Writing courses are an excellent way to learn more, especially if you can’t afford a writing conference. How do you begin your stories? Are you a plotter or a pantser?

A recovering Pantser. In early years, I pantsed because it was easy, not because the plotting stifled my creativity. Now that I’m writing under deadline, I have no time to mess around. 🙂

Speaking of time, how long does it take you to write a book—from preliminary plotting to final proofread?

Tough question, it changes with every book! I would estimate a year if I worked on the same book the whole time. I usually brainstorm and plot while working on a previous book, then focus on drafting the new one, then take a break and edit another story while the first one sits.

Wow, you’re a multitasker! I can’t divide my attention like that, so kudos to you! Do you do any other creative activities other than writing?

I love to knit, bake, and garden.

You’ll be able to get into your garden soon, now that the weather is warming up. Before we go, one silly question: shoes or barefoot?

Barefoot!

 

Thanks so much, Sheri, for giving us more insight into your writing and your novel The Seller of Secrets. And congratulations on its release–it’s a great story!

Check out The Seller of Secrets here: https://www.amazon.com/Seller-Secrets-Sheri-Yutzy/dp/B0F8GK5392/

Pre-order The Seller of Secrets from Sheri’s favorite indie bookstore, The Bibliophile, and get a Mira Byler art print of Bell’s garden for free! https://shop.ohbibliophile.com/products/author/Sheri%20Yutzy

Sheri Yutzy is the author of atmospheric Young Adult fantasy books. She was born and raised as a Mennonite in Ohio, surrounded by beautiful Amish country. She read and wrote voraciously throughout her childhood and never doubted for a moment she would be an author. Sheri lives in a small Ohio city in an old Italianate home with her musician husband and four beautiful children. When she’s not writing, she’s tending her garden, baking something, or pulling her youngest children in their wagon.

Find Sheri online at Instagram @sheriyutzyauthor.

Website: https://sheriyutzy.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheriyutzyauthor/

Goodreads: https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/233894456-the-seller-of-secret

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/sherilynyutzy

Substack https://substack.com/@sheriyutzyauthor?utm_source=menu

 

Has Penguin/Putnam House Lost Its Mind?

A book to avoid

If you’ve been hanging around Bookstagram or checking out authors on Facebook, you might have come across a post or an article about Sibylline by Melissa de la Cruz. This YA romantasy (from Penguin/Putnam House) has drawn a lot of backlash, and many reviewers are raising concerns. Why? Because of the content. The author included graphic sexual content with a threesome (a girl and two boys), one of whom is either asleep or dead. I’ve only read a brief clip of the scene, but based on some extra information on the plot and some help from AI, I believe he’s dead.

There are several problems with all of this.

  • If the character is dead, that makes this scene necrophilia.
  • If the character is alive but asleep, what happens to him is rape and nonconsensual.
  • Regardless of whether he’s alive or dead, this kind of content is for much older audiences and is unacceptable for YA.
  • This material passed through at least one editor, a publisher, and several promoters.
  • Good Morning America picked the book as their YA Book Club Pic and interviewed the author.
  • ARC readers raised concerns after reading it, claiming it was too adult for YA.

The YA genre targets readers aged 12-18, and readers can be as young as 8 or 9. There is a broad crossover market, with 74%-78% of YA readers being over the age of 18. But why include it at all? No one at Penguin/Putnam suggested a rewrite or revision. There’s no warning anywhere on or in the book that this is for adult readers. During Good Morning America’s interview with Melissa de la Cruz, the content was never mentioned, and GMA still has a post up on their website supporting the book. The ARC reviews raised concerns, but nothing was changed.

So with all the disregarded opportunities to correct a mistake, I have lots of questions: Why label it as YA and not adult? Is there any genre where necrophilia or nonconsensual sex is acceptable? How did this material bypass the editors/promoters/publisher? Are publishers specifically targeting younger readers with graphic content? If Melissa de la Cruz and her publisher see nothing wrong with this kind of content, where does it stop? If publishers feel there NEEDS to be “sex on the page” in YA**, the days of picking a book off the shelf at B&N are gone.

An interesting fact is that the author shut down comments and issued no apology. I also noted this book is the first in a duology. Will a publisher release a second book if the first is rated so poorly? (On Goodreads, over a quarter of readers gave it a rating of 1 while 50+% of Amazon readers gave it a 1. Clearly, this isn’t something the reading public wanted.)

I wish I could offer a solution to avoid all the garbage that’s being pushed onto the shelves and into our and our kids’ hands. Here are a few things I do:

  1. Read books by authors who promise a clean read. There are plenty. Just beware of those that promise the confusing blend of “sweet and spicy.” See below for my list of indie and traditionally published authors.
  2. Check the Amazon reviews—there’s a section above the reviews for each book that reads Looking for specific info.? I’ll type “smut,” “spicy,” “language,” or “violence” to see if there are other reviews mentioning these words.
  3. Read books recommended by other authors. I try to recommend mostly clean reads, and if they’re not, I’ll tell you what I found between the pages.

 

** In a newsletter last month, I mentioned author Lorie Langdon’s most recent message from her publisher—her newest YA manuscript wouldn’t sell unless it had sex on the page. I’m wondering who’s asking for this kind of content. I know of plenty of readers who are looking for the opposite—stories with a riveting plot, action, and interesting characters. No smut/spice needed.

Below, I have a list of clean traditionally published authors and a list of small press/indie authors just for you. 🙂

Clean Traditionally Published Authors:

Some are Christian authors. If the author doesn’t write consistently clean books, I’ve included the clean titles for you.

  1. Rebecca Ross (Letters of Enchantment Duology–sex is mentioned but not explicit and the characters are married.)
  2. C.J. Redwine
  3. Lorie Langdon
  4. Brandon Sanderson
  5. Marissa Meyer (The Lunar Chronicles)
  6. Brigid Kemmerer
  7. Shannon Hale (Princess Academy and The Goose Girl)
  8. Gail Carson Levine
  9. Nancy Campbell Allen
  10. Kathy Tyers
  11. Nadine Brandes
  12. Lisa Bergren
  13. Rachelle Nelson
  14. Morgan Busse
  15. Jamie Foley
Clean Independent or Small Press Authors
  1. Janeen Ippolito
  2. Sarah Delano White
  3. Mary Meacham
  4. Laura Zimmerman
  5. Carrie Ann Noble
  6. H.L. Burke
  7. Haley Reese-Chow
  8. E.A. Hendryx
  9. Savannah Jezowski
  10. E.J. Kitchens
  11. Sarah Ashwood Blackwell
  12. Savannah Goins
  13. Pam Halter
  14. Dawn Ford
  15. J.M. Hackman 😊

If you have kids, protect them. My oldest child was a bookworm, and it was really difficult to stay on top of what she was reading. Unfortunately, we can’t rely on the publishers to keep explicit content from our kids.

 

The Seven Books of August

storm between bookstacksAugust was a banner month for reading. When I’m writing, I don’t have as much time for reading, but that wasn’t the case this month. While I usually share 3-4 reviews in my newsletter, I didn’t have room to cover all my recent reads. Here are  ALL the reviews/recommendations! Enjoy!

 

 

**The Unsound Theory (Emilia Zeeland) 4.5/5  Yalena isn’t star crazy, but when she gets an invitation to the Star Academy, it might answer all the questions about where she came from. This reminded me of Harry Potter, in that it was the orphaned Chosen One in space that goes to a special school and makes friends. I enjoyed it and have book 2 waiting on my Kindle.

**Once Upon A Dream, A Twisted Tale (Liz Brazwell) 3.75/5 Although the Prince tried to wake Aurora, he fell asleep. Since she’s still asleep, too, they must navigate her dreamscape and try to break the curse together. This fairytale was based on Disney as the source material (which I disliked a bit) and the Prince was written with Golden Retriever vibes—not very bright but with a goofy happiness and eternal devotion. I didn’t hate it, but I think I’ve read better Sleeping Beauty retellings.

**The Game She Hates (Ella Marie) 4.5/5 In this Christian romcom, Zane and Pearl couldn’t be more different. Although he’s charming, handsome, and plays center for the popular Glaciers hockey team, Pearl isn’t interested. She wants commitment, family…and a man who loves Jesus. Still determined, Zane offers her friendship hoping a mutual attraction will grow, but does he have room for Jesus in his life? Reading a romcom with a faith element was interesting, and I loved the way Zane fell first. The strong faith element didn’t overpower the connection between all the characters, including Zane’s teammates and Pearl’s best friend, Robyn.

***House of Hybrids (Savannah Goins) 4.25/5 This sequel to Whisper of Weapons continues the tale of a misfit group of friends as they travel to recover a missing friend and his animal familiar (which is a rare hybrid). Once they arrive, their search for answers raises more questions and reveals layers to the queen’s deviousness. This multi-POV coming of age story includes adventure, friendship, and a touch of romance.

***Just A Friend (Deb Goodman) 4/5 This sweet romcom follows Sophie and Oliver who have always had an annual standing date for a milkshake…until he doesn’t show. Sophie knew this would eventually happen. So even though she’s stuck in a small town, she’s determined to ignore the feelings she has for Oliver that Won’t. Go. Away. When the two suddenly reconnect, Oliver finds Sophie…different. In a good way. Not that they have a chance—their families have been feuding for years and he can’t see how his jet-setting and her homebody tendencies can mesh. Plenty of sweetness and romance ensue as they strive for their own happy ending.

***Bluebeard and the Outlaw (Tara Grace) 4.25/5 This clever retelling is a mashup of Bluebeard and Robin Hood with fae elements. Robin Hood and her band of brothers rob the rich to help the poor the evil Duke Guy Bluebeard taxes so heavily. So what if the duke is handsome? And brooding? And nothing like she expected? Their community needs financial help, so Robin chooses to marry the duke and kill him to get to the treasure he’s hiding. But as the duke slips past the walls around her heart, she finds more trouble than she expected.

***Her Maine Catch (Ash Keller)4/5 Aspen is ready for a No Drama, No Men summer family vacation. Especially after being dumped by her boyfriend last Christmas. But when her cousin shows up with her new boyfriend, he just happens to be Aspen’s ex. To avoid her ex and his snarky comments about her lack of fishing skills, she begs her way into a fishing class for seniors. Anything has to be better than dealing with her ex in the cabin’s close quarters. But with every cast, she finds herself drawn to the grumpy instructor, leaving her revenge plans far behind…

 

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Are You A Rebel Reader?

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Banned book week was October 1-7. Although I’m a bit late, here are some of the top banned/challenged books of the last decade.

  1. To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
  2. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D. Salinger
  3. 1984 by George Orwell
  4. Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury
  5. The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald
  6. Brave New World by Aldous Huxley
  7. Lolita by Vladimir Nabokov
  8. Animal Farm by George Orwell
  9. The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck
  10. The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn by Mark Twain
  11. Harry Potter series by J.K. Rowling
  12. Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck
  13. The Color Purple by Alice Walker
  14. Beloved by Toni Morrison
  15. One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest by Ken Kesey
  16. The Lord of the Flies by William Golding
  17. A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess
  18. The Awakening by Kate Chopin
  19. Catch-22 by Joseph Heller
  20. Gone with the Wind by Margaret Mitchell
  21. The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian by Sherman Alexie
  22. Captain Underpants (series) by Dav Pilkey
  23. Thirteen Reasons Why by Jay Asher
  24. Looking for Alaska by John Green
  25. George by Alex Gino
  26. And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson and Peter Parnell
  27. Drama by Raina Telgemeier
  28. Fifty Shades of Grey by E. L. James

How many of these have you read? I’ve only read 6. I’m obviously under-read in most of the classics. Some of them I don’t enjoy them because, well, I’m shallow like that. Lol! Also, with all the new books available, I usually forget to go back and read the classics, and I won’t read books with unhappy endings. (I’m talking to you, Looking for Alaska!)

Although I’m conservative, and I don’t like smut, I don’t approve of book banning for two reasons.

1. Books provide a marketplace of ideas. You don’t have to approve of every book’s message or worldview, but you can’t dialogue intelligently about a book you’ve never read. In the past, I’ve had conversations go like this.

Them: “Book X is terrible, just terrible. Why, it should be banned!”

Me: “Have you read it?”

Them: “Well, no! Of course not. It’s trash.”

Me: “Then how do you know?”

Them: “Well, I heard from my sister’s husband’s cousin three times removed that it’s just full of garbage.”

Me: Blinks. Waits. Moves on.

Some of the “questionable” books I read were trash, but I could talk intelligently about WHY I wouldn’t recommend the book to others. There were others I loved, and I couldn’t understand why someone would prevent another from enjoying the story (the Harry Potter series is a case in point).

2. Who decides what gets to be banned/removed? Who’s the gatekeeper? What if they don’t hold the same views you do? I have a book in my possession that I read as often as possible. It’s also one of the most banned books of all time—the Bible. The thought of someone taking away my right to read it (or any book) upsets me because it’s an infringement on freedom.

I remember an interesting conversation when I worked as a librarian. I was talking to an acquaintance whose son I went to school with. She was part of a group that wanted to put brown wrappers on all the Cosmo covers and/or put the magazines behind the counter so children wouldn’t see them. They weren’t asking for banning per se, but a “limiting” of material. When I said I didn’t agree with her, she lost it and began yelling at me in the children’s reading area of the library. I’ve never forgotten how ugly she became when I voiced a view different from hers.

Of the banned books I’ve read, I thoroughly enjoyed the Harry Potter series, The Great Gatsby, and To Kill A Mockingbird. Earlier this year, I picked up 1984 at a used book sale, and I plan to read it soon (even though I know the ending. It helps if I can prepare myself. : -)  ) What banned books were your favorite? Which titles do you plan to read or have already read this year?

Let me know in the comments!

Spark: Firestarting & Neurodiversity

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Today as part of the StoryQuest Academy Clean Fiction Blog Tour, I wanted to share some of the inspiration behind The Firebrand Chronicles (includes Spark, Flare, & Burn).

And don’t forget to comment on the posts for a chance to win some bookish prizes!

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I’m a firm believer God gives each of us a special gift that makes us unique and distinctive. This fact and the question “What if…?” inspired the beginning of my YA portal fantasy trilogy the Firebrand Chronicles.

What if God’s gifts were more dramatic than being a good teacher or a great speaker? Don’t get me wrong—those are valuable gifts (especially the speaking gift—I’m often unclear or awkward!) But what if God gave each person a highly visible gift, like firestarting or control of the weather? Could being able to control time be used for good or evil? How would individuals use these talents?

These questions were the basis for Spark, book one of the Firebrand Chronicles. I added another component to the main character due to my youngest daughter. Around the time I was writing Spark, she was diagnosed with ADHD (inattentive). This means rather than being hyperactive and loud, she was more often distracted and unfocused. I learned how ADHD affects children—lack of focus, impulsivity, and low self-esteem are often present. I couldn’t even imagine how an impulsive, distracted teen would handle firestarting, but I was interested in exploring it.

The YA fantasy landscape lacks characters with ADHD, especially girls. Percy Jackson’s ADHD and dyslexia are mentioned briefly in Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief then explained away. In fact, few literary characters at all, male or female, are neurodiverse (this term covers ADHD, autism, Tourette’s, dyslexia, as well as a host of other disorders). Adhdaware.org.uk says 30%-40% of the population is neurodiverse, and the CDC says 11% of American children have ADHD. The YA fantasy genre doesn’t reflect this.

In response, I created Brenna James who struggles with ADHD while also being the Chosen One. I wanted my daughter and other neurodiverse kids to know they weren’t broken or damaged; they are creative, out-of-the-box thinkers who process the world differently. They can ride a griffin, battle the evil villain, and use their gift to save the world.

Because some YA reads more adult than young, my series is clean yet with lots of nail-biting action, some snark (because snark is a teen’s second language), and a touch of romance.

 

Here’s a little more about Spark:

Brenna James wants three things for her sixteenth birthday: to find her history notes before the test, to have her mother return from her business trip, and to stop creating fire with her bare hands.

Yeah, that’s so not happening. Unfortunately.

When Brenna learns her mother is missing in an alternate reality called Linneah, she travels through a portal to find her. Who knew portals even existed? But Brenna’s arrival in Linneah begins the fulfillment of an ancient prophecy, including a royal murder and the theft of Linneah’s most powerful relic: the Sacred Veil.

Hold up. Can everything just slow down for a sec?

Unwilling yet left with no other choice, Brenna and her new friend Baldwin pursue the thief into the dangerous woods of Silvastamen and beyond. Exactly what Brenna wanted to do for her sixteenth birthday. Exactly. When they spy an army marching toward Linneah, Brenna is horrified. Can she find the veil, save her mother, and warn Linneah in time?

And more importantly, why on earth doesn’t this alternity have Belgian waffles?

Spark (and the entire Firebrand Chronicles boxed set!) is available at Amazon (https://www.amazon.com/Spark-Firebrand-Chronicles-Book-One-ebook/dp/B06Y1DSKRB) and anywhere else books are sold.

 

 

Check out the rest of the blog tour participants below!

March 1st Story Quest Academy
March 2nd Ellie Naomi
March 3rd Julie Gilbert
March 4th Jasmine Natasha
March 5th Liz Delton
March 6th Mark Hansen
March 7th Ian Vroon
March 8th Story Quest Academy
March 9th Nicholas Kotar
March 10thJ.M. Hackman
March 11thMark Hansen
March 12th Courtenay Kasper
March 13th Debbie Schreffler
March 14th Story Quest Academy
March 15th Steven Guglich
March 16th Laurie Lucking
March 17th Julie Gilbert
March 18th Meg Dendler
March 19th Nicholas Kotar
March 20th CourtenayKasper
March 21st Story Quest Academy
March 22nd Molly Casperson
March 23rd D.J. Edwardson
March 24th Marty C Lee
March 25th Molly Casperson
March 26th Mark Hansen
March 28th Story Quest Academy
March 29th Debbie Schreffler
March 30th Nicholas Kotar
March 31st Molly Casperson

Happy Release Day!

This is a slightly surreal day for me.  Spark was published in 2017, Flare in 2019, and Burn in 2020. But when I learned there would be a boxed set, with all three of my books plus some extra stories included, it was hard to  imagine. Today that news is a reality as the Firebrand Chronicles boxed set releases!

As mentioned, in addition to Spark, Flare, and Burn, there are also four stories inside which I had such fun writing. Let me tell you a little more about them.

“The Peddler”–a story that takes place between Spark and Flare as Brenna travels to Linneah to celebrate the winter holiday Sonatalis. And of course, Baldwin’s ex Gari is there.

“The Midnight Unicorn”–this gives the reader an inside peak into shapeshifter Anna’s search of One Maiden Chasm for new Stones of the Spring (and an internal heart-search on her long-standing crush on Erhardt).

“Beyond the Greatest Adventure”–this takes place immediately after Burn. Aideen Siriol’s sword (now carried by Brenna) is no ordinary sword. The readers and Brenna learn her sword has a story and powers of its own.

“The Helix”–this story shares a glimpse into Brenna’s world three years after the conclusion in Burn. Did you know griffins mate for life? We finally get the full story on how Arvandus met his mate Astraya.

                 

I did some quick math and realized the total of the extra stories is equal to a novella, so the set is like four books in one. 🙂 To celebrate in style, I arranged a #Firebrandbox challenge on Instagram and Facebook. Participate and gain chances to win a prize pack (pictures above^^^)–a large fire-print, padded book sleeve from the Etsy shop TrueNorthExclusives, a “jasper” pendant like Brenna’s, a snarky magnet (the quote could’ve come from Brenna’s journal!), a dragon figurine inspired by the story “Beyond the Greatest Adventure”, and a paperback copy of Spark OR Flare. Just go to my post today on either IG or FB to learn how to enter!

And if you’re in the mood for more prizes and Firebrand trivia, join me at the Fellowship of Fantasy’s Facebook page on Thursday, the 14th. I’ll be visiting, talking about Spark, and having some games and giveaways. Stop by and have fun with us!

Anyway, I hope you’ll celebrate with me today as this boxed set releases into the wild. Happy reading, and as Arvandus would say, “Fly true!”

Fantasy books for Christmas? Yes please!

Can you think of anything better than more Fantasy and Sci-Fi titles to put under your Christmas tree?

Yeah, I can’t think of anything either. So hold onto your Santa hats–I joined with fifteen talented authors for a blog tour! Each day a different author and book will be featured, from now until December 19th.

My day is December 4th, where you’ll have access to a fun excerpt from Burn, book 3 from the Firebrand Chronicles. (BTW, did you know a Firebrand Chronicles box set is releasing in January?!? Woot!)

Aside from amazing books to add to your towering TBR pile, there’s also a giveaway! Want all the pretty pictures and more details? Go here!

Here’s the tour schedule:

November 29th: Launch
November 30th: R.J. Anderson – Swift
December 1st: Ralene Burke – Armor of Aletheia
December 2nd: Michelle Diener – Breakaway
December 3rd: Sandra Fernandez Rhoads – Mortal Sight
December 4th: J.M. Hackman – Burn
December 5th: Sharon Hinck – Forsaken Island
December 6th: Ronie Kendig – Dawn of Vengeance
December 7th: Carla Laureano – Oath of the Brotherhood
December 8th: Belle Malory – Deviant Descendants
December 9th: Sara Schaller – The Genesis of Seven
December 10th: Jennifer Silverwood – Stay
December 11th: Anne Wheeler – Treason’s Crown
December 12th: Melissa Wright – Between Ink and Shadows
December 13th: Morgan Wylie –  Silent Orchids
December 14th: Kristen Young – Apprentice
December 15th: Grand Finale

Hope to see you there!

 

The Firebrand Chronicles Boxed Set

I’ve got interesting and exciting news–the Firebrand Chronicles will be released as a boxed set! *cue the confetti, marching band, and awkward cartwheels*

After Burn was released, there was a flurry of emails between me and my publisher discussing this. I got to work and wrote four short stories about Brenna and beloved side characters. It was a lot of fun to flesh out the world of the Jasper Territory a bit more. I’m thrilled to share it all with you!

The three books of the Firebrand Chronicles will release with the four short stories on January 11, 2021 (just one more reason 2021 looks better than 2020) 🙂

We’ll be planning a fun release week, and I’ll be putting together an Instagram challenge. And for those of you who avoid IG like the plague? If I can expand the fun to Facebook, I’ll do that, too. 🙂

Keep your eyes on this website for more information coming soon. But if you want to be kept in the loop, come to the Facebook group The Pryomaniacs or sign up for my newsletter (the gray box on the right). We have giveaways, updates on upcoming books, and other bookish stuff.  We’d love to see you!

 

Writing a Series vs. a Standalone

I’ve heard authors ask, “Should I write a series or a standalone?”

My first answer would be to write the story in your heart. DO NOT WRITE TO TRENDS – say it with me. Do not. By the time that story’s written, revised countless times, edited, and polished, that royal Tasmanian zombie-shifter prison quartet trend will have flashed and died.

But if you can see your story going either way, here are a few truths regarding series and standalones.

  • Historically, authors are told to write series. Series sell better. If you’re shooting for traditional publishing, it shows agents/publishers you have more than one book in you. Readers like following characters they’ve read about before. (This last point is a double-edged sword. More on this later.) But if there isn’t an arc there, and you aren’t interested in adding or fleshing out secondary characters, don’t force it. Some stories might only be one book long. That’s not a crime. In fact, lately, I’ve hesitated to buy or read a book in a series. Every story seems to be part of a series (says the author who wrote a trilogy. Ahem.) Sometimes I just want to read a well-told, juicy standalone. Sometimes I just want to write a well-told, juicy standalone. But…
  • There’s a benefit to sticking with characters you’ve created, tortured, and triumphed with after just one storyline. I found this especially true with the Firebrand Chronicles. I grew to really know and love Brenna, Baldwin, and Arvandus. Spending all that time with them made me imagine what else could happen to them. After finishing a story, I usually imagine different connecting points between characters and plot. Even my short story “Everwild” (which is in the anthology Mythical Doorways and is FREE, BTW…) is already a four-book series in my head. I have plenty of adventure and mayhem planned for half-fae Flint and full-fae Lila. I just can’t get all my projects written as quickly as I’d like.
  • At the outset, writing a series requires more planning. Detailed notes are imperative—a “bible” for your world, with the characters, their backstories, descriptions, towns, magic system, tech level, money system, languages, belief systems, etc. You won’t remember it all—trust me. Take copious notes and keep them with you while you write. A map is good too, even if it’s one scrawled on notebook paper (which is what I have for my current WIP. I’m not crazy about it, but it’s working—for now.)
  • Over the long haul, world-building is generally less work. Although there are detailed notes being listed in your notebook bible, you create one world. That world lasts for the duration of the series. For each standalone, the author must create a new world. Every. Single. Time.
  • I mentioned how much readers like following characters they’re familiar with. I’ve found some readers don’t want to buy a book and then wait a year for the next installment. So they’ll wait. (*Raises hand.*) Many will wait until all the books are out. You won’t see sales. Don’t let that discourage you. Keep writing the next story. If you’re self-publishing, you could avoid this problem by doing a rapid release (which is writing all the stories, editing and polishing them, and then releasing them in quick succession, usually no more than six months apart.)

Don’t feel you have to create a series if it’s not in you. There’s a place for everyone at the table, both series writers and standalone authors.

Going Deep in Your Story, Part 1

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Have you ever heard of deep point of view? As a  writer, you want to transport the reader into the story. You want them there with the characters, feeling and experiencing everything they are. Deep point of view accomplishes that.

It’s a more intimate way of writing. The writer removes the narrator and settles into a comfy chair in the chosen character’s head. Although deep POV usually refers to third person, I’ve also found writing this way helpful in first person as well. It is limiting, though. You can’t know what the other characters are thinking because you’re firmly entrenched in your comfy chair. You can see reactions, but the other characters’ thoughts are hidden.

There are several other things to remember with deep POV.

You have to pick a character to inhabit. You can’t do two or three characters at a time. When you change scenes or chapters, you can slip into someone else’s head, but don’t do it within the scene. It’s sometimes referred to as head-hoppping, and it’s very confusing to the reader.

Avoid dialogue tags (in third person.) If you’re in Ron’s head, you wouldn’t say Ron snapped at Sharon. You’d use interiority to give the reader a window into what’s he thinking. For example: “No, you can’t have the last pickle.” He gritted his teeth. I’ve never seen someone as selfish as Sharon.

Avoid “distancing” words. She felt, noticed, realized, thought, looked at, etc. For example: Shari exited the shop. She noticed the dark sky. In seconds, she felt the heavy raindrops soak her clothes as she ran for her car. I’ll have to drive home carefully, she thought.

The same passage with deep viewpoint: Shari exited the shop. Dark clouds loomed, blocking the sun. In seconds, raindrops soaked her clothes as she ran for her car. I’ll have to drive home carefully.

Although these aren’t excerpts from the great American novel, the reader is closer to the characters. They sense Ron’s irritation and experience the storm as Shari does.

A couple of books cover this writing technique. A good one is Rivet Your Reader with Deep Point of View by Jill Elizabeth Nelson. Another is Writing Deep Viewpoint by Kathy Tyers.

Try this technique the next time you sit down to write. It’ll make your characters come alive for your readers.